Method of making a pattern record



1935- c. s. DIPPEL ,016,416

METHOD OF MAKING A PATTERN RECORD Filed Sept. 4, 1931 '/N VENTUR E. 5. D/PPEL /1770/?/VEY Patented Oct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,010,41 amnion or mxnve a ra'r'rann aacoan' Cornelius S. Dippel, Woodcllfl, N. 1., alllgnor to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New; York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 4,1931, Serial" rim-561,142

This invention relates to patterns and to a method of reproducing them, and more particularly to a method of transferring to any desired Surface a facsimile or image of the grain of wood.

It frequently becomes desirable to produce new articles of relatively cheap wood such as pine,-

bass, gum, birch, or of metal, or to refinish articles that have become scratched or marred in service so that they shall have a finished ap- 10 pearance closely approximating that of a rare or expensive wood, such as walnut or mahogany. To accomplish this, severalmethods have been employed at various times in the past in preparing a surface containing a grain pattern which is to be reproduced. ;These methods have in some instances involved an etching away of portions of the wood, such as by treatment with an acid or a caustic solution, or a solvent capable of dissolving portions of the wood, or by charging. In other instances, the selected grain pattem has been photographed, and an etching has been made on a copper plate from the photograph. It has also been the custom, in some instances, to entirely cover the surface on'which the grain pattern was to be reproduced, with a fiat ground coat of paint that, in the case of its application to wood, completely blotted out the surface characteristics and grain pattern.

Objects of the present invention are to prepare and reproduce wood and other grain patterns,

as well as the surface characteristics of other substances, the method of reproducing being applicable to any smooth surface, and resulting in faithful reproduction of details and very close resemblance to natural finish.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a smoothly machined surface of wood containing a selected grain pattern is treated with a noncorrosive salt solution by vigorous brushing, which removes foreign matter from the pores of the wood. It is then coated with an organic protective coating, after which it is inked and an impression of the grain pattern is transferred by means of a roll to a stained wood surface.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed. description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. l is a plan view of a surface of a piece of wood containing a grain pattern that is to be reproduced;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a similar surface, showing an inked impression of the grain pattern partially transferred to a roll, and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a surface upon which a grain pattern is to be reproduced, showing the inked impression of the grain pattern partially deposited thereonby the roll.

Referring now to Figs. 1' and 2 in the drawing .5 in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, III is a selected piece of wood having a surface ll containing a grain pattern I2 which it is desired to reproduce on another surface. In Fig. .2, the reference 10 numeral I 4 indicates a portion of the surface H which has been treated with ink, pigment, or paint. A printer's roll or gelatine or other transfer roll is indicated at l5, and it has .been rolled partially across the surface H, as a result of 15 which an impression l6 of the grain pattern has been transferred to that portion oiv the roll ii that has been in contact with the surface ll. When the roll I 5 has received the complete impression of the surface of the piece of wood 20 It, the impression may be transferred to any desired smooth surface.

In Fig. 3, the reference numeral l8 designates a portion of any smooth surface, on which the grain pattern is to be reproduced. The roll I5 is shown 25 with the impression ii of the grain pattern completely transferred thereto. The roll l5 has been drawn partially across the surface [8, and has impressed thereon a reproduction IQ of the grain pattern.

In preparing the surface H in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, it is first carefully dried and then machined in any suitable manner so as to be as level and smooth as possible. The surface is then polished with suitable fine abrasives, such as pumice stone. The polishing is done with any suitable volatile vehicle for the abrasive, such as benzene, toluene, turpentine, etc. The polishing vehicle 'must be a substance that will not affect the subsequent 40 coats of finishing material.

After the surface has been sufliciently polished, it is permitted to dry thoroughly. It is then treated with a water solution of a non-corrosive salt. Alum, chemically known as sodium tetra- 45 borate and borax, chemically known as potassium-aluminum sulphate, have been found to give particularly satisfactory results, although other water solutions of salts which dissociate electrolytically in water may be used, providing their 50 water solutions are non-corrosive. The term non-corrosive as used herein in connection with salts and their aqueous solutions, is to be interpreted as signifying that no portions of the wood are softened, iellified, or dissolved by the action of the salt or the solution. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a saturated solution is employed, but the invention is not to be construed as limited to the use of a saturated solution, as comparatively satisfactory results may be obtained by using dilute solutions, and to a lesser degree by using clear water. A short, fine, stiif-bristled brush is dipped in the salt solution and the solution is applied to the grained surface by a vigorous brushing parallel to the grain. The brushing iscontinued until all foreign matter is removed from the pores and the surface of the wood. It is possible to remove foreign matter from the pores of the wood by dry brushing with a fine, stiff-bristled brush, such as a brush having bristles of fine brass wire. However, it has been found more satisfactory to use a solution in connection with the brushing.

When the wood has completely dried, the sur-' face is lightly sanded, and all dust is removed.

The surface is then covered with any suitable organic protective coating, such as nitrocellulose lacquer or other lacquer, which serves several purposes. It preserves the surface of the wood and protects the raised fibres, it stops the absorptive nature of the wood and makes it impervious to transfer fluids such as ink, paint or pigment, and it produces a smooth hard surface from which an impression may conveniently be taken. After the lacquer has completely dried, the wood is sanded lightly until the surface is smooth. If the surface is not sufiiciently smooth one or more additional coats of organic coating may be applied, until a satisfactory surface is obtained.

The next step in the process is to completely cover the smooth lacquered surface with suitable transfer fiuid ink, paint, or pigment, and to wipe away the excess, leaving the pores of the wood filled with and the surface substantially free from the fluid. A roll of the type commonly referred to as a printers roll, or a soft transfer roll, is rolled across the inked or painted surface that contains the grain pattern. The soft surface of the roll contacts with the inked or painted pores of the wood and receives therefrom a. faithful reproduction of the grain pattern. The grain pattern is then ready to be transferred to the desired surface. This may be accomplished by the simple operation of rolling the inked roll across the surface. A reproduction, in ink, of the wood grain pattern will be deposited on the surface. After the ink has dried, finishing coats of suitable organic substances may be applied over the reproduced grain pattern.'

When the grain pattern is to be reproduced on wood, themost satisfactory results canbe obtained by choosing wood that has an even texture, and a fine, close, straight grain, substantially free from prominent or distinctive patterns. Pine, birch, bass, gum, etc., are ex-' amples of wood especially suited to receive artificial grain patterns. The wood is machined to the desired smoothness by any suitable method, after which it is stained. The color of the stain used is dependent upon the finish that is to be applied, an example of-this being the use of walnut, oak, or mahogany stain, for corresponding grain patterns. The stain serves as an undertone and gives color to the surface of the wood without destroying its identity as wood. The natural grain pattern of the wood is not blotted out, but its prominence is reduced, and

uniformity of surface is obtained. The fact that the grain of the wood shows through the a stain makes apparent the desirability of using fine grained wood, as mentioned above. The stained surface servesas a background for the 5 artificial grain pattern, enables the finished surfibre, textiles, paper, etc., on surfaces of wood,

metal glass, ceramic materials, fibre, leather, paper, fabrics, rubber, etc. It is to be understood that the method of the present invention is,not zo limited to the specific application herein illustrated and described, but is capable of numerous applications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of preparing a wooden surface for use as a master record in reproducing a wood grain which comprises treating the surface with a non-corrosive water solution of an electrolytically dissociable salt to accentuate the grain patl0; tern.

2. A method of preparing a wooden surface for use as a master record in reproducing a wood grain which comprises brushing the surface with an alum solution to remove foreign materials and to as; accentuate the grain pattern, and covering the surface with a protective coating.

3. A method of preparing a wooden surface for use as a master record in reproducing a wood grain which comprises treating the surface with a borax solution to remove foreign materials and to accentuate the grain pattern, and covering the surface with a protective coating to make it impervious to transfer fluid. v

4. A method of preparing a wooden surface for 5 use as a master record in reproducing a wood grain which comprises treating the surface with an alum solution to remove foreign materials and to accentuate the grain pattern, and covering the surface with a coating of lacquer.

5. A method of preparing a surface for use as a master record in reproducing surface characteristics, which comprises treating the surface with an alum solution to accentuate the surface characteristics.

6. A method of preparing a wooden surface which comprises treating the surface with an alum solution to remove resins and foreign materials, and to accentuate the grain pattern, and covering the surface with a protective coating.

7. A method of preparing a wooden surface for use as a master record in reproducing a wood grain which comprises the steps of treating the surface with a non-corrosive water solution of an electrolytically dissociable salt, and subsequently ap'plyg5 ing a protective coating to the surface.

8. A method of preparing a wooden surface for use as a master record in reproducing a wood grain which comprises the steps of treating the surface with a non-corrosive water solution of 70" an electrolytically dissociable salt, and subsequently applying a permanent coating to the surface.

comics 5. DIPPEL. til- 

